Diamond production down

Diamond production in Ghana in the first half of 2008 was 395,236 carats, marking a fall of 22 percent from production of 504,363 carats in the first half of 2007. The revenue generated from this production also fell by over a fifth at 21 percent.

"With the increasing cost of inputs, particularly electric power, the challenges the mining companies faced in the period will continue at least in the near term," warns a spokesman for the Chamber of Mines